Bats in Pennsylvania in April

Yes, April is a good month to see bats in Pennsylvania. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 143 of the 1,334 sightings logged across the year (10.7%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Tri-coloured Bat photographed in PennsylvaniaBig Brown Bat photographed in PennsylvaniaEastern Small-footed Myotis photographed in Pennsylvania
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for bats in Pennsylvania

10.7%

of yearly sightings

143

records in April

#5

busiest month of 12

1,334

verified records a year

March 5%, April 10.7%, May 11.5%. Busiest month is August at 16%.

Best months: August, July, JunePeak season right now

1,334 verified observations of bats in Pennsylvania, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bats are recorded in Pennsylvania

Peak month

August

213 records (16% of the year)

Quietest month

January

29 records

MonthObservationsShare
January292.2%
February392.9%
March675%
April14310.7%
May15311.5%
Junepeak17112.8%
Julypeak20615.4%
Augustpeak21316%
September1098.2%
October1098.2%
November634.7%
December322.4%

Bats you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Big Brown Bat577
Eastern Red Bat181
Silver-haired Bat61
Little Brown Bat51
Tri-coloured Bat43
Northern Hoary Bat21
Northern Myotis13
Eastern Small-footed Myotis9

In Pennsylvania, April carries 10.7% of the year's bats sightings, about 2.4 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from March (5%) into April, and it heads toward May (11.5%) after. The busiest month is August (16%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The bats most often recorded in Pennsylvania are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Silver-haired Bat. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which bats you are most likely to see

  • Big Brown Bat577 records
  • Eastern Red Bat181 records
  • Silver-haired Bat61 records
  • Little Brown Bat51 records
  • Tri-coloured Bat43 records
  • Northern Hoary Bat21 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your bat trip in Pennsylvania

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bats in Pennsylvania in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 143 of the 1,334 verified bats sightings logged in Pennsylvania across the year, which is 10.7% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see bats in Pennsylvania?+

April is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though August and July is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for bats in Pennsylvania?+

August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, July and June, based on 1,334 verified observations.

Which bats are you most likely to see in Pennsylvania?+

The most-recorded species in Pennsylvania are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Silver-haired Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.